MEMPHIS, TN. Tuesday, January 7, 2024 – Chamber Benefits, Inc. (CBI), a subsidiary of The Greater Memphis Chamber, announced today that the Chamber has teamed up with Cigna Healthcare to offer health plans designed to improve health and help lower costs for area businesses. CBI was created to provide member businesses with high-quality and affordable solutions on essential business expenditures.
Qualifying Greater Memphis Chamber member companies can receive an exclusive 2% discount on Cigna Healthcare’s level-funded health plans. These plans offer the advantages of self-funding and financial predictability.
“In the fast-paced business landscape of today, employee well-being is vital to your business’s success,” stated Ted Townsend, President & CEO of the Greater Memphis Chamber. “Our partnership with Cigna Healthcare aims to offer affordable health plans tailored for companies of all sizes, and we are particularly proud to extend these savings to small businesses.” Over 90% of the Chamber’s membership is classified as small business.
“We are pleased to team up with the Chamber and CBI to provide affordable health benefits plans to help improve health and vitality for Memphis companies, their employees, and families,” said John Webb, Cigna Healthcare TriSouth president. “Our personalized products and solutions lead to more predictable costs, and we know that a healthier, stronger, and more productive workforce is essential for business success.”
Cigna Healthcare plans designed for small to mid-sized businesses are fully integrated, with medical, behavioral, and pharmacy benefits included. These plans feature local and national network options, offering flexibility to fit a small business’s specific needs. Cigna Healthcare’s robust network of doctors, specialists, and hospitals includes 98% of all practicing physicians in the Memphis metro area, including independent physicians as well as physicians employed by
Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, Baptist Memorial Health Care, St. Francis Healthcare, and Regional One Health.
For Chamber member companies looking for traditional insurance, Cigna Healthcare offers fully insured small group health plans designed for businesses with at least one qualified full-time (or full-time equivalent) employee other than the business owner or spouse.
Companies, including non-members of the Chamber, interested in participating in the Chamber’s
Cigna Healthcare Plan should contact their local insurance broker or visit our website (CLICK HERE).
“CBI is pleased to provide these resources to businesses in the Greater Memphis region while also supporting the work of the Chamber,” said CBI President Rob Recker. “Every day, we search for products that can make a business greater and help with its bottom line. We are pleased to offer this new cost-saving benefit from Cigna Healthcare and continue to grow our
local economy.”
About The Greater Memphis Chamber
One of Memphis’ oldest institutions, dating back to 1838, the Greater Memphis Chamber is a privately funded nonprofit that serves as the region’s lead economic development organization and the “Voice of Memphis Business” on local, state, and national issues. The Chamber’s mission is to drive the Memphis business agenda for Greater Memphis. We do this by relentlessly pursuing prosperity for all — through economic and workforce development, pro-growth advocacy, and by providing support and resources to its investors, which include many of the region’s largest employers. For additional information, please visit www.memphischamber.com
engineering physics from John Carroll University, specializing in electrical engineering through cross studies at Case Western Reserve University. He also earned a master’s in electrical engineering from Penn State University. HICO is a leader as a domestic producer of large power transformers, and Jason has been a key part of expanding HICO’s presence in North America. HICO has more than 400 employees in Memphis and more than 120 employees in Pittsburgh, in addition to employees across the U.S. and Canada. HICO is working to expand its capacity in Memphis and plans to manufacture other solutions the company offers. So why did a company with a world-class facility in South Korea choose to build a manufacturing facility in Memphis? “Many of us at HICO have been at our company a long time, and it was a key vision to establish a manufacturing operation in the U.S.,” said Jason. “For many years we imported equipment and solutions from South Korea. That is a world-class facility, but our partners in the U.S. wanted operations in America. In 2017 we decided to build a factory in the U.S., and a facility in Memphis became available. We acquired it on Valentine’s Day 2020. It was a milestone for our business in the U.S., truly a dream come true for all of us. “Memphis is a perfect location, central to our customers across the U.S. The rail and over-the-road access to transportation in Memphis is unmatched. But most of all we are blessed with the talented employees we have at our plant, the leaders and managers we have in Memphis, the quality of the work of our team and the products we produce day after day.” The company doesn’t just manufacture in Memphis – employees are also active supporters of the community. Hyosong HICO supports the St. Jude Memphis Marathon and Concord Academy. The company works with the Chamber to engage with schools, including hosting a Manufacturing Day at the plant earlier this month. They hire interns from colleges in Memphis and across the country. What excites Jason most about Memphis? “It’s a great location for our business, but most importantly, it is the people in Memphis. The quality of the education and the welcoming atmosphere in the community translate into our operation in Memphis. We have grown from 120 employees to more than 400 today, with plans to expand to more than 600 in the coming years. HICO is a great atmosphere to learn and work. We have a solid business model that gives all employees a voice to contribute to the direction of our company. We share together in our successes, and we face challenges together and overcome them. “It is also organizations like the Greater Memphis Chamber and the Chairman’s Circle in particular that give our company the opportunity to contribute to growth in Memphis. Our acquisition of the Memphis plant remains the single most important decision our company has made in the U.S. Our growth in Memphis is contributing to the success and expansion not only of our company, but also the industry overall.” Jason and his wife Melanie just celebrated their 25th anniversary. They have two children, Sarah and Samuel, who both attend the University of Dayton. Jason’s parents instilled a strong work ethic, and “the example of their relationship influenced my life in many ways. My father spent his entire career in the utility industry. When I entered college, I saw the utility industry as a little static, maybe not as exciting…. But I was wrong! My decision to join this industry in 2001 was the best decision I made. We have become the ‘cool industry.’ We are at the forefront of technology development.” Jason enjoys golf, vacationing near the ocean with his family and playing basketball and sand volleyball. Because of all the time spent watching with his kids, he can spout lots of quotes from the movie Cars. But his favorite movie is Shawshank Redemption, because he said it shows the importance of relationships and the ability to work together to overcome obstacles. Asked if he had anything else to add, he said, “We’ve been a proud member of the Chairman’s Circle since 2022. We look forward to more opportunities to support the Chamber and to engage with other companies in the area. We are especially proud to be here in Memphis!”
As Corporate Champion, Bill is encouraging other business leaders to support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital by forming corporate teams to raise money and participate in the weekend’s marathon, half marathon, 10K, 5K or 2-Race Challenge. In addition to raising money for St. Jude, marathon weekend contributes to the local economy and generated $43 million for Memphis’s retail, transportation and hospitality industries in 2023. The St. Jude Memphis Marathon is the largest single-day fundraiser for St. Jude. This year’s marathon will be Dec. 7 and is expected to bring 22,000 runners and walkers to Memphis, along with thousands of volunteers and spectators from around the globe. This year’s goal is to raise $16 million during the marathon weekend. The 
As Corporate Champion for St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend, I am honored to lead the charge to raise funds and awareness for the kids and families at St. Jude. Supporting St. Jude has always been my passion, and I’m elated to expand our impact by uniting more business leaders behind this mission. What is the mission of the organization or project? St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, known for its pioneering research and treatments, aims to raise $16 million during the 2024 marathon weekend. What is your history with this organization? I have long supported St. Jude individually as a St. Jude Hero and through Varsity Brands programs such as Team Up for St. Jude and Spirited by Varsity. Why is this project or the work of this organization important to our community? In addition to raising funds for St. Jude, marathon weekend has generated millions for the Greater Memphis economy. What is your goal with this involvement? Since 2011, Varsity Brands has been all-in on supporting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s incredible mission of treating and defeating childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Thanks to our collective efforts, we’ve raised more than $13 million (and counting!) to help ensure that families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food. Are you involved with other community organizations? What is your role with those organizations? In addition to my role as president of Varsity Spirit, I also founded Crosscheck Athletics, one of the largest nonprofit youth sports organizations in the greater Memphis area. I chair the board of the Leadership Empowerment Center in Frayser, sit on the board of Memphis Gridiron Ministries in Binghamton, serve on the board of governors for New Memphis and am in the process of launching a nonprofit specifically designed to drive youth engagement in Memphis. If you’re interested in sharing the story about your community involvement outside the office in the Chairman’s Circle newsletter, email